“Gave Me Less Than a 5% Chance to Live”: Jim Kelly Reveals How His Bills Backup QB Helped Save His Life During Cancer Battle

The year was 2013 when former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly was diagnosed with oral cancer. Kelly has faced some of the biggest challenges imaginable, but his battle with cancer tested him in ways football never could. And that is when one of his former teammates came in and played a crucial role in his fight for survival.

“Frank Reich. As soon as you said that, I thought about when I was in the hospital, and the doctors gave me less than 5% chance to live. And everybody was coming because they thought that was the last time they were ever going to see me. Oh, I got a prayer from Frank every day,” said Kelly on The Immeasurably More Podcast.

“To me, and how much that helped me seek the Lord. It really did. Even though at that time I was little, of course, you know, mentally thinking, why would God put me through all these things? And I know we’re going to talk probably a little bit more about that, but when Frank did that, it was amazing how much it drew me closer to the Lord, not knowing that I will ever get that close.”

Jim Kelly and Frank Reich were part of the Buffalo Bills for nine seasons (1986-1994). The Bills drafted Reich in 1985, one year before Kelly joined the team in 1986. Following that move, Reich primarily served as a backup QB to Kelly.

While they shared a competitive locker room, Kelly and Reich did not have any bad blood against each other. And much of their strong camaraderie was visible when the life-threatening cancer made its way into Kelly’s life.

In 2014, the cancer returned and aggressively spread toward Kelly’s maxillary sinus and brain. Following that, Doctors gave Kelly a 5%-10% chance of survival. That is when Frank Reich, who served as a pastor after his playing career, came into the picture and helped his former Bills teammate spiritually.

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